Why Thousands of Ukrainians Lost Pension Payments After Failing Verification

Pension Payments Suspended in Ukraine

According to ХВИЛЯ: Since January 1st, Ukraine has suspended pension payments for a segment of its citizens who failed to complete a mandatory in-person identity verification process by the end of December. This annual verification is required for specific groups receiving state payments, including pensioners in temporarily occupied territories, internally displaced persons, and Ukrainians residing abroad. The primary goal of this check is to confirm the recipient is alive and is the legitimate person receiving the funds. This process is a key anti-fraud measure in Ukraine's social security system, especially given the large-scale displacement caused by the ongoing war.

According to a government decree, verification had to be completed by the end of December. The resulting issue stems from an overwhelming demand that the Pension Fund's service centers could not handle.

"Too many people required the procedure. The service centers could not withstand the load, the deadlines passed, and payments for certain categories of pensioners were stopped," noted Anastasia Deriuga.

Proposed Solutions to the Problem

The Parliamentary Committee on Social Policy reviewed the situation in early February and proposed a series of urgent steps to resolve it. These include:

• extending the deadline for in-person identification until July 1, 2026;
• automatically reinstating payments for those whose benefits were suspended due to late verification;
• changing the operational logic of state bodies.

Under the proposed changes, Administrative Service Centers (ASCs) could take over document intake, while the Pension Fund would focus exclusively on verification and payment calculations.

Additional funding is also planned to staff service centers fully and finance mobile and outreach teams to assist people with limited mobility and displaced persons. Verification can be completed through the personal account on the Pension Fund of Ukraine's portal using an electronic or Diia.Signature, or via a pre-scheduled video conference. Citizens abroad have the option to contact consular offices for assistance.

The suspension of pension payments highlights the critical need for a well-organized verification process, particularly under the strain placed on service centers. The proposals from the Parliamentary Committee on Social Policy could streamline the procedure and ensure access to payments for those in need. Given the numerous challenges facing Ukraine's social security system, implementing these measures could significantly improve the situation for citizens living in difficult circumstances.